Machine for manufacturing metal pipes



Jan. 23, E923.

A. e. H. lF'EreeusoN ET AL. MACHINE FoR-MANuF/{cTURlNG METAL PIPEs.

FILED JULY l0 19.22v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jam 23, 1923' JA. G. H. FERGUSON ET AL. MAcHmE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL PlPEs FlLEo JULY 10 1922 an. 2 l 2 j 3 9 3 A. G. H. FERGUSON ET AL.

AMACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING METAL Pipes. y

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 lFILI-:D JULY 10. 1922.

Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

entre sra-rss r innate rrr ortica.

ALBERT GEORGE HOTHAIVI FERGUSON AND MEI-HAN J' CHN FERGUSON, OF ASCOT VALE AUSTRALIA.

MACHINE FOR' MANUFACTURING METAL PIPES.

:Application led July 10, 1322. Serial No. 574,106.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that ALBERT GEORGE HOTHAM FERGUSON, and MEPHAN J OHN FERGUSON, both subjects of the King of Great Britain,

residingatrHillcrest, Bloomfield Road, Ascot Vale, in the State of Victoria, Australia, and

Falkirk, ARoyal Parade, Royal Park, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Australia,

respectively., haveinvented .certainl new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Metal Pipes (for which I have filed `applications in Australia, No. 1425/21, filed April 19, 1921, and in `New Zealand, No.

45,979, filed June '2, 1921) ol' which the following is a specification.

The present invention refers to steel pipes f the closing or seaming of which isjetl'ected by .dovetailing or 11p-,ending the longitudi- .nal edges and clamping same by hydraulic pressure between the heads of an H-shaped bar.

Such pipesare usually constructedof two :plates each curved to a `,semi `circular form and brought and held together at diametrically opposite sides in the 'tl-shaped locking,r bars mentioned. In carrying out the `assembling ofthese four parts in readiness for passage throughthe"closing machine it is necessary to employ two-part bands vor clips drawnitogether about the pipe half-sections by rods and wedges which yinvolves considerable labour and equipment.

By means ci the present invention the use ci' one locking bar can be entirely eliminated with resultant reduction in cost of material, and furthermore, the assembling and labour costs are also reducedand without impairingr the eiiiciency of the pipe produced.

` According to this invention steel pipes are producedtby curving a fsingle plate length into a C form leaving a single longitudinal gapfto be closed 'by 'one length of locking bar.

A practical form of the machine incorporating the invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings of which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a sectional plan, front elevation and side elevation of the parts ofthe machine which include theimprovements.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of part otA Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings it will be noted that the pipe length P consists of a` single .plate curved into G-shape with a single lonu gitudinal gap which pipe length with the gap uppermost is fed upon the usual cradle with the H-section looking bar L in position to the locking mechanism.

The-usual mandrel 2 is provided on its top with a closing tool or swage block 3, shaped to seat the bottom and corresponding flanges 4, of the locking bar L ,and with a bottom swage block 5 curvedto correspond with the curvature of the pipe length. This mandrel is slid into a pipe length and is supported on a bloclr suitably curved on top and xed to a vertically operatinghy- Vdraulic ram` 7 which imparts the operating pressure.

The upper head and anges 8 of the locking-bar L are acted upon by a rigidly vfined swage block 9 on a superimposed 'backing 10 rigidly fixed to a cross strut 11 of the frame. l

In order to prevent twistingofthe locking bar L and to straighten same, its .upper head 8 is caused to-travel between a pair of rollers 12 formed at the bottom with .danges `13 which enter the grooves 14 in the locking bar as in Fig. 4 said rollers beingin front or the locking mechanism.

The rollers 12 are mounted on thelower ends oi vertical bars 114 formed with slots l5 to permit vertical` adjustment and to vary the position and gripping effect of the roll ers., said bars being pivoted upon bolts 16 passed through said slots into `the frame member 11.

A forked rod 18 is fixed by alpin 19 to each vertical bar and the rods extend in opposite directions at approximately right angles to said bars and .pass freely through holes 20 formed in supporting bars21 their endsbeing screw threaded to take adjusting nuts22.

It will benoted that the fork attached to one vertical bar :embraces the f other' vertical bar and that .by .loosening the Anuts .22 :the rollers 12 can be adjusted to suit the size of pipe being made.

In front of the locking mechanism are a pair of freely rotatable vertical guide rollers 234 arranged a distance apart each being formed with a concave periphery to conform to the contour of the pipe length which latter is fed between said rollers to cause its longitudinal edges 24 to approach each other and fit tightly up to the grooves of the H- lsection locking bar.

The spindle 32 of each roller is mounted upon a heavy U plate frame 25 supported upon a platform 2G and engaging guides 27 thereon said frame having a screw 28 passing through agbar 29 and provided with a nut 3() formed with a hand Wheel 3l for turning the screw to horizontally adjust the rollers according` to the size' of `the pipe being made.

The spindle 32 of' each roller passes through an upper bush 33 and into a lower bush 34 both of which are screwed through the horizontal members 35 of the frame While the lower oner` passes through a slot 36 in the platform 26 to permit vertical adjustment.` The bushes 33 and 34C are adjusted according to the size of rollers being used.` A It is found advantageous to hand the locking` bar L on one longitudinal edgekof the pipe and in that position to feed the pipe between the Vrollers 23 with the locking bar in engagement with the flanges of the rollers 12 when the verticaloperation of the ram as the pipe length advances causes the H- section bar to be locked to the edges `of the pipe length by the pressurer of the svvage blocks. j

We elaimz- 1. A machine for swaging the flanges of grooved locking bars to the opposing longitudinal edges of curved pipe blanks, com prisingA supporting means for the lockingbars, and means to press the longitudinal edges of the blanks into the grooves of the bars. v i

2. A machine for swaging the flanges of grooved loeking'bars'to' the opposing longitudinal edges of curved pipe blanks, oomprising supporting Vmeans for the lockingbars, meansto press the longitudinal edgesl of the blanks into the grooves of the bars,

and `means to swage said flanges onto the edges of the pipe blanks.

3. A machine for sWaging the flanges of grooved locking bars to the opposed longitudinal edges of curved pipe blanks, comprising rolls engagingl the grooves of the lock-ing bars and means to press the longitudinal edges of the pipefblanks into said grooves. j

4c. A machine for swagingthe flanges of grooved locking bars to the opposed longitudinal edges of cylindrical pipe blanks,

comprising a pair of supporting rolls having flanges adapted to engage the grooves of the locking-bars, and rollers forengaging the pipe blanks 'adapted to presstheqlongitudinal edges of the latter into the grooves of the locking bars.

5.4A machine for swaging the flanges of grooved looking bars to the opposed longitudinal edges of oylindrical pipe blanks, comprising a pair of supporting rolls having fianges adapted to engagethe grooves of the locking bars, means tov adjust the rolls vertically and laterally, androllers for engaging the pipe blanks adapted to press the longitudinal edges-of the'latter into the grooves of the locking bars. 6; A machine for swagingthe flanges of g'rooved lockingbars to the opposed longitudinal edges of cylindrical pipe blanks,

comprising means for supporting the lockingbars, and guide rollers having concave peripheries conforming to thej- `contour of the pipe blanks adapted to `press the edges of the latter into the grooves of the looking bar.

7. A machinefor sWaging'the Hanges of grooved' locking bars to the opposed longitudinal edges of cylindrical pipe blanks, vcomprising means for supporting thelocking-bars, guide rollers having concave peripheries conforming to the contour of the pipe `blanks adapted Ito 'press the edges of the latter into the groovesof the looking bar, and means tolater'ally and vertically adjust the rollers.` j

`8. In a machine for swaging 'grooved locking bars to the longitudinal opposing edges of cylindrical `pipe blanks, a pair of concave rolls for guiding the blank, laterally adjustable supporting frames for the rolls, means for adjusting the rolls inthe frames, a pair of rollersA having ianges engaging the grooves of the connecting bars, means for vertically adjusting the rollers,means for laterally adjusting the latter, a mandrel Within'the pipe blank, a sWage block carried by the mandrel beneath the locking bar, a fixed svvage bar abovethe latter, and means for raising and lowering'the mandrel.

Dated this'ilV day of May 1922'.

narrar Grouse nomina rniousuaV j arman man Friseusen 11 

